Johnson masters Texas Open for victory
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Valero Texas Open | Round Four | 13 Oct 2008
Zach Johnson has bounced back from what has been an ordinary season in 2008 with a narrow but impressive victory at the Valero Texas Open.
Since his runner up finish at the Tour Championship a year ago, Johnson has managed only one top ten finish but following a break of nearly seven events since The Barclays, he has managed to turn his game around.
“No, I didn’t,” said Johnson when asked if he expected to be sitting in the media centre as the winner this week. “I guess that’s kind of a good thing. I had two things in my mind this week as far as going into the week and one was no expectations. So, no, I did not expect to be here but I guess that’s a good thing. The second was just to – you know, I made some commitments to my fundamentals, to my golf swing and starting to payoff. So it’s very encouraging.”
Johnson birdied from five feet at the final hole at the La Cantera Country Club in today’s final round and edged two shots clear of what had been a large chasing pack. Many had a chance over the closing stages but after a shaky start to his final round, Johnson worked his way into the lead and his experience was crucial over the final few holes.
As is so often the case at the La Cantera Golf Club, the event was highlighted by some rather extraordinary scoring, two players recording rounds of 61 on the final day, one of those the joint runner up Charlie Wi.
Wi threatened to break 60 when he moved to 9 under through 16 holes but was unable to add the two birdies necessary to break the magic number.
Tim Wilkinson, Mark Wilson and Wi all shared second and for Wilkinson it ensures he regains his full status on the PGA Tour in 2009. The 30-year-old New Zealander has produced a very good rookie season on the PGA Tour to date, his share of second worth US$336,000 and moving his earnings for the season to US$1,121,000.
Wilkinson might have missed an opportunity to win his first PGA Tour event but that will surely come and he will be relieved just to get through the learning curve that is a first season on the PGA Tour out of the way and be back next year. With that certainty behind him he will enjoy the last few events of the season.
For the third event in succession, Steve Allan was the best Australian, finishing in 19th position. This follows his 3rd and 4th place finishes at his last two starts. He has found some great end of season form but whether it will be good enough will be determined over the next few weeks. Allan takes his earnings to US$593,000 and with four events still to play and in the form he is in he still has a chance to be back on the PGA Tour in 2009.
Steve Elkington was next best in 28th position with a stunning last round of 61 including a final nine holes of 28. Nathan Green bounced back from a mid-tournament slump to finish with 66 and finished 30th along with Mark Hensby, Nick O’Hern was 36th and Matt Jones 64th.
The PGA Tour now moves north west to Las Vegas for this week’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
